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He had been assistant to Peschisolido for almost three years and was in charge of the Brewers for two-and-a-half years before being appointed manager at Birmingham City in October 2014.

"Ben (Robinson) gave me my first opportunity in management and I owe him everything, really. He took a chance on me," said Rowett, who says he has current Burton boss Nigel Clough to thanks for taking him to the club as a player in 2005.

"I remember my first game was Forest Green away. There was hardly any grass on the pitch and I made about 45 headers before someone passed the ball to my feet in about the 35th minute!" Rowett recalled.

Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson (Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

"Nigel gave me that opportunity to get back playing again. I owe Burton forever, really, but when it comes to a head-to-head against them there is no point talking about a romantic fairy tales - we want to win the game. I am pragmatic, Nigel is also, and we will be looking for the same thing."

Rowett said his time at Burton as assistant and then as manager helped him to cut his teeth in management.

"I sat on the sideline having lost two games 7-1, and I can assure you that you learn an awful lot about yourself in those moments," he added. “Losing play-off games, and winning play-off games - you learn a lot about making management decisions in those moments.

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Derby County 1-0 Burton Albion

"There is also an understanding of what it is like to be at a club that hasn't got the financial power, that hasn't got the staffing levels, and you learn how to maximise those things.

"I follow Burton's results. I was so pleased for them last season, and I hope they manage to stay up this season."

Looking ahead to today's game, Rowett said: "If I am being really honest, will Saturday's game have some massive romance for me at the weekend? No, is the answer to that. Will it have romance for Nigel Clough? I would imagine not.